Being Active in Winter

I want to get to know winter more.

Besides eating heck a lot and trying not to get out from my warm duvet, I'm not clear what else I'm motivated to do in my spare hours.

I've been feeling really inactive but I hate running in the chilly cold winter wind. Normally, tightening those shoe-laces excites me. I don't even have the motivation to walk to my gramp's place these days. Today's the Stand Chart run in HK. Maybe it's all about will. I just need to will myself to get out of the house in a windbreaker and wiggle those legs.

Day In The Life Of

It's been a week since the start of my new job in Hong Kong. I'll be spending the first 2 months like a good ol' student, taking classes and having exams. I've backpeddled in my career a bit to join a completely new industry and I really think it's great that my new company has such a good training program so that finance noobs like me could play catch up. I thought it's a good thing I've the habit of reading vastly, so I actually have a vauge idea of everything said though I've never learnt it in details when in school.

B and I have fallen into some sort of routine at our apartment. Every morning when my alarm rings at 6 a.m, I'd jump out of bed and he'd stir a lil. I used to take 30 min to get ready in the morning but I take almost an hour here 'cos the cold weather makes motions much slower. I'd commute to work for 40 minutes and get coffee with breakfast (company gives a good breakfast spread of toasts and cereal). My classes end at 6pm, so I'd usually reach home at 7. I get to chat with B a bit, and wait for him to finish whatever he was doing. We live in a lil condo at the top of the mall, so we'd head down for dinner as there're too many cafes and restaurants to choose from. It's around 9pm ish after our meal. B would chat with his parents on skype, and I'd shower and read a lil before I end the day. It then become my favourite part because B tucks me in bed, we'd hold hands a chat a bit while I fall asleep. He'd continue with his stuff when I'm prancing about in slumberland. Sometimes I get caught up with my life (like checking work schedules and emails from home) that I completely ignore everything around me. But I try to stop at home and appreciate how fortunate we are, living at our own place, having new experiences in Hong Kong.

Well, it's a Saturday. He's gone out with some friends and I chose to stay in to finish up some online courses and tests I have to complete by tomorrow. I hope I could finish up soon, so we could drink some wine together before bed time tonight.

2011. Hong Kong Adventures.

I really need to document my 2011 adventure as everything's so fresh and new. On the 19 Jan, I flew to Hong Kong for the start of my adventure. It was a cold, windy Wednesday night. I knew I was frowning for most of my plane ride because there're so many uncertainties and I have so many questions that I don't have answers to. The next day, I was a mad man on a mission to house hunt within 3 days. I viewed 9 flats in 2 districts I've shortlisted, like 1 of 'em very much and started bargaining. Negotiated the rental down to my budget and there, I put down my deposit, just like that. All done within a day.

I thought I'd have it easy once I've found my apartment in Hong Kong but hell no, next come furniture, then curtains, then the mattress, then the pillows...basically, every nitty gritty things I've taken for granted in my life. I hunted for the best valued items and it's not an easy feat. It never ends. Till now, we don't have forks. Or a pot. Thank God, Bryan flew in on 30 Jan to be with me. I picked him up from the airport. We spent the night sleeping on the cold, hard floor because the mattress couldn't be delivered then. We spent next 10 days or so sorting out the house, cleaning, getting our broadband (got HKBN for $189, comes with cable tv) and getting everything else we need (never knew we would fight over our limited hangers).

It was also the first time I celebrated Chinese New Year with my gramps. It was...different. Most of my Chinese New Years have been quiet. Here, there're lots more visiting and fuss (must get box-gifts, not just 2 oranges). 1 day was more than enough so I squirmed my way out 2nd day onwards and visited Cheung Chau Island with Jason & Bryan. I have been taking the time to explore Soho, Central, the Peak and our neighbourhood with Bryan past days.

I'm very excited about the year. There's really loads more to look forward to. Just last year, I never thought Bryan and I would get our own place, out of Singapore. Things always work out by itself, no matter what. Just one step at a time.